1988 Ruinart "Dom Ruinart" Brut Rose

95 Points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine: "This is a beautiful wine, from its onion-skin pink color onward. It is, of course, mature, but still exhibits vibrant red and citrus fruits. It is very dry in style, a paean to delicious acidity. This great wine does not need to age longer, but still has some potential to improve for the next few years. " (12/1/2013)

91 Points Vinous: "The 1988 Dom Ruinart Rosé is totally surprising,. Sweet tobacco, worn-in leather, earthiness, bramble and dried cherries meld together in the glass. The aromas and flavors are fully developed, yet the wine retains incredible density and pure power. Readers who enjoy fully mature Champagnes will adore the 1988 Dom Ruinart Rosé. The 1988 needs to be drunk sooner rather than later, as there is no upside from keeping bottles further. This is a rare vintage in which acidity was higher than alcohol!

Ruinart is unusual among Champagne houses in that the overwhelming majority of the production is still sold in France. Perhaps because of that, Ruinart does not enjoy the same visibility as many of its peers. The wines, though, are magnificent. As always, the Ruinart Champagnes are done entirely in steel, with full malo. Dom Ruinart stands out from most other Blancs de Blancs for its powerful, broad texture, much of which comes from the significant presence of Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims. The production cycles in Champagne are always a bit shocking relative to the norm in other regions." (03/2014)